Traditional Knowledge of Jahai Tribeat Kampung Semelor, ,

Soijah Likin1, Nazarudin Zainun2 and Faridah Binti Jaafar 3 1 Anthropology & Sociology Section, School of Distance Education, UniversitiSains , 11800, , Malaysia 2 History Section, School of Humanities, UniversitiSains Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia 3 Political Science Section, School of Distance Education, UniversitiSains Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia

Keywords: Traditional knowledge, Jahai tribe, taboo

Abstract: Values, norms, taboos are things that are created in the community as a means to regulate and social control in order to live in harmony and stability. Traditional knowledge is the power of the invisible but can force people to live with by the rules, taboos, values, norms set by society. Similarly, in the lives of Jahai's tribe which is practically a variety of taboo in many aspects of life. Traditional knowledge refers to the knowledge and practices of indigenous and local communities that have developed over centuries and are traditionally transferred from elders to young people in concrete working and life situations. Traditional knowledge is dynamic and it can be transferred and expressed orally, through stories, legends, rituals, songs, and laws.

1 INTRODUCTION Proto-Malay. Are believed to have migrated to Southeast since 60,000 years ago with five Aboriginal identity is the first communities that other Negrito tribe in Malaysia have the physical inhabit Tanah Melayu (Benjamin, 1976). The results characteristics of the different categories of of archaeological research carried out in the Eastern Malaysia. and Northern Peninsula represents the of Most people Jahai have a small number of family has been inhabited since the 8th members of three to six people. Aborigines are the century BC, which is about 10 thousand years ago indigenous people of the Jahai Negrito group. (Khairul Hisham and Kamarudin Ngah Ibrahim, Most of them inhabit the interior, particularly in 2008). In Malaysia, The Orang Asli can be divided the Northeast and the West Perak (Amran into three groups – the (or Negrito), the Kasimin, 1993). The location of their placement is in , and the Proto-Malay (or Aboriginal Malay). Banun, Sungai Tiang and coastal Temenggor in This division is mostly sociological, as the groups Perak and more concentrated in around Kampung differ linguistically, but possess similar cultural Sungai Rual Jeli, Hulu Kelantan (Jabatan Hal Ehwal characteristics. Every groups divided into several Orang Asli, 2009). The Jahai appearance person has tribe, namely Negrito (Kensiu, Kentaq, Lanoh, Jahai, in common with the people of Ethiopia, the African Mendriq, Bateq), Senoi (Temiar, Semai, Memoq Negro, Negrito tribe in the Andaman Islands, Aeta Give Che Man, Jah Hut, Mah Meri), Proto-Malay . (Temuan, Semelai, Jakun , Kanaq, Kuala, Seletar Their modest home situation is due to the (Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli, 2009). The Orang practice of those who love the nomadic, especially Asli can be divided into three groups – the Semang on death and disaster relief purposes other than for (or Negrito), the Senoi, and the Proto-Malay (or food needs in new areas. However, like other Aboriginal Malay). This division is mostly indigenous communities, they now have their own sociological, as the groups differ linguistically, but placement and taken care of all aspects of life possess similar cultural characteristics. through increased assistance from the government. Jahai community is one of the Negritos little (Http://www.jakoa.gov.my/orang-asli/info-orang- compared with other tribes such as the Senoi and asli/pengenalan-orang-asli/)

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Likin, S., Zainun, N. and Binti Jaafar, F. Traditional Knowledge of Jahai Tribe at Kampung Semelor, Gerik, Perak. DOI: 10.5220/0008892306760680 In Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2018) - , pages 676-680 ISBN: 978-989-758-437-4 Copyright c 2020 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda. All rights reserved

Traditional Knowledge of Jahai Tribe at Kampung Semelor, Gerik, Perak

Traditional knowledge is the result of an The Orang Aslihave knowledge and adaptation of a community that comes from life understanding of their environment and ecosystems experiences are communicated from one generation and ways how to use and manage them. Often this to another. So local knowledge is the local people knowledge is very particularly and detailed. In used to survive in an environment that integrates recent years traditional knowledge has been with the system of beliefs, norms, culture, and increasingly considered alongside scientific tradition and is expressed in the myth that adopted knowledge within the context of research and for long periods of time. The regeneration of conservation efforts related to Arctic peoples and traditional knowledge is done through nature. (folklore) and literary works. Traditional knowledge has an important role to ensure the stability of society. Traditional knowledge is any guide, guidelines, norms, values 2 METHODOLOGY for members of the public. Traditional knowledge is a social fact of Jahai’s tribe. The concept of social fact has been introduced in the 19th century by the The data about taboos Jahai’s tribe obtained using the technique of the interview structure. According French sociologist Emile Durkheim called. Social to Burn (1995), Merriem (1998) and Yin (1995) the facts are interpreted as a social phenomenon that abstracts e.g. legal, social structure, customs and use of design research, case studies using qualitative data is suitable if a study involving the observation habits, values, norms, language, religion, and the of an individual or unit, a group of people, a family, rules of life that have some power to enforce that rule exists in people's lives beyond the capabilities a class, a school, a community, or cultural events. A case study should focus on a subject that has criteria of the individual. In the book Rules of Sociological Method, Durkheim explains "social fact is every or characteristics to be studied. This means that a way of acting, whether fixed or not, and feel that review of case studies, mostly about individuals or events in the cultural environment and their there are outside forces as well as the individual and his capacity as the pattern formed in the society. environment (Burn, 1995). Merriem (1998) stated the case studies are used Since beings are born indirectly it is to enhance a thorough understanding of the subject required to act in accordance with the social environment in which he was educated and very studied, focusing on aspects of the process rather than output, rather than concerned with the difficult for him to break away from the rule. And discovery of a theory or finding confirmation. feel that there are outside forces as well as the individual and his capacity as the pattern formed in According to Yin (1995) is a case study related to the research strategy that focuses on the question of the society. Since human beings are born indirectly 'who', 'why' or 'what'. This means that the case it is required to act in accordance with the social environment in which he was educated and very studies enable comprehensive or holistic research to know the features of a real-life event. To get a difficult for him to break away from the rule. So complete picture, a case study must collect data from when a person does other than what is expected by society, then it will get corrective action, ridicule, various sources to enable an understanding of the research (Burn, 1995). scorn, even got a penalty. In addition, the social fact that has 3 properties: external, public (general), and force (coercion) (George Ritzer, 2012). 1. External means these facts are beyond one's 3 THEORY considerations and have been there just long before existed in the world. Traditional knowledge refers to the knowledge and 2. Coercive (Force) Social facts have the strength practices of indigenous and local communities that to push and force individuals to accept and have developed over centuries and are traditionally implement it. In a very real social fact that the transferred from elders to young people in concrete individual is forced, guided, reassured, working and life situations. Traditional knowledge is encouraged in some way affected by various dynamic and it can be transferred and expressed types of social facts in their social orally, through stories, legends, rituals, songs and environment. laws. It can also be preserved in artifacts handed 3. Spread / general (General) Social facts are from father to son or mother to daughter. common or widely dispersed in society. In other words, the social fact is the common

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property and not the individual nature of the In rural communities in developing countries, locally individual. From the above characteristics, can occurring species are relied on for many - sometimes be underlined that social facts point to all - foods, medicines, fuel, building materials and something that exists outside individuals other products. Equally, peoples’ knowledge and requiring them to follow the customs, manners, perceptions of the environment, and their and respect for the common procedures relationships with it, are often important elements of performed as a member of society and relations cultural identity. between individuals by other individuals in a Most indigenous people have traditional songs, society. In other words, social facts such as the stories, legends, dreams, methods and practices as a actions of individuals in contact with other means of transmitting specific human elements members of the community who is guided by traditional knowledge. Sometimes it is preserved in the norms and customs of a person so that they artifacts handed from father to son or mother to do patterned relationships with other daughter. In indigenous knowledge systems, there is community members. The indigenous people usually no real separation between secular and known as the Orang Asli are a community that sacred knowledge and practice - they are one and the has a relationship with the chronology of the same. In virtually all of these systems, knowledge is and Paleolithic. They were the transmitted directly from individual to individual earliest inhabitants of the country. One side is Taboos are community belief which is associated very interesting about the original is to with culture and tradition. Many taboos and tips maintain confidence and taboos of their passed down orally from generation to generation. ancestral heritage. Although they are often Taboos aimed to educate the public, especially the considered by modern society as society younger generation in order to lead to the uncivilized and primitive, but they were able to implementation of good values that can be practiced control their people from committing immoral in life. Some taboos are already a practice or behavior that is prevalent in modern society principle in life today. such as rape, incest, murder and so on. All taboos are actually in good of the people themselves. The taboo is a prohibition or an injunction against any conduct or conversation 4 TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE intended to prevent something bad from happening. Taboos are good things guide of the previous OF INDIGENOUS JAHAI generation. According to this study informantsSamat Bin Jeramun aged 34 years, residents Semelor The indigenous people known as the First are a consists of 28 families. The population of the village community that has a relationship with the is 173 people. Each family usually consists of five to chronology of the Mesolithic and Paleolithic. They six people. The average rate Jahai’s tribe age, were the earliest inhabitants of the country. One side married are 18 to 19 years. is very interesting about the original is to maintain After Resettlement Plan Banun, they moved confidence and taboos of their ancestral heritage. because the government failed to fulfill the promises Although they are often considered by modern to give the rubber project and estates of oil palm to society as society uncivilized and primitive, but they them. After settling in Banun they moved to various were able to control their people from committing places like Cium, Tiang, Telum, PulauTujuh, immoral behavior that is prevalent in modern society Semelorand others. There is a total of 17 villages such as rape, incest, murder and so on. under Resettlement Plan BanunBanun. Covering an The Director General of area of 40 acres of land in Semelorare the property Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization of their own, but there are no grants. They have (Mayor, 1994) defines traditional knowledge: The lived in Semelor for 30 years. indigenous people of the world possess an immense The organizational structure of tribal society knowledge of their environments, based for Jahai is very clear. The role of women as mothers, centuries of living close to nature. Living in and wives and care for children. While the role of men as from the richness and variety of complex fathers, husbands and search of sustenance. Head of ecosystems, they have an understanding of the household is male. The division of wealth in society properties of plants and animals, the functioning of Jahai is bilateral. The property will be divided ecosystems and the techniques for using and equally among the heirs of men and women. managing them that is particular and often detailed.

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Jahaimale collecting forest products such as rattan, will cause the baby's body will be hot. They gaharu, herbs, catching fish, hunting animal. can only eat fish. Most forest products will be sold to Chinese e. Pregnant women cannot walk far. middlemen.Chinese middlemen coming to take f. Pregnant women are not allowed in the forest the forest products. Indigenous Jahai not plant paddy for fear of being harassed spirits and rubber because this plant is often interrupted by g. When baby at six months old should hold a wild elephants. Jahai men rarely take care of the feast and Sewang. The purpose of the feast children. Jahai men responsible for hunting animals and Sewang is to free the baby from and collecting forest products. Jahai men not abstinence. They believe that the ritual will subject to any taboos. Jahai children aged under four prevent interference of spirit. years old are not allowed to eat monkeys and pigs. h. Infants aged between 3-4 years old cannot eat Each Jahai’s tribe village is led by a headman pigs, apes, monkeys. They afraid that eating called TokBatin. The TokBatin role is directing pig, apes, monkey will be transformed into a villagers carry out planting project, working on beast and will cause high fever and seizures. farms, regarding the school. The TokBatin is also In the past, if Jahai’s tribe is sick, they responsible for addressing social ills such as impregnated with a shaman. Now, the drinking alcohol, theft and security. practices meet the healer is decreasing. They The Orang Asli community is rich with traditions meet a doctor at the clinic for any problem and culture because the environment they are still about health. closely linked to nature though has entered the i. While in the forest cannot talk about bad modern world. Customs and beliefs they have a things. close relationship with the supernatural beings in the j. Anyone who wants to enter the forest must universe. The life philosophy of Orang Asli as have good intentions and goes by intention. revealed in the myths, customs, belief systems, the Can not deviate from the original intention. system of cosmology, taboos and so on. All of these For example, if the enter to forest to take the characterize their attitude and character, the way honey cannot take anything else. they act and relation with nature and other human k. While in the forest cannot complain. beings. l. The big in the forest cannot be cut down. Almost all the Orang Aslihave animist faiths. m. While in the forest can only take plants or They create the impression that every object around objects that are important and mature. them has a particular spirit or supernatural powers n. A person can take timber after it was that can affect their lives. All the things that happen confirmed to have the core in it. Punching the around them are influenced by certain objects that timber is the method to find out the tree core. have supernatural powers. They strongly The timber must be abandoned if no core in. emphasized the relations with the universe. The Gaharu tree can be taken piecemeal. harmony between nature and man is the key to prosperity and happiness of human. Now many Tualang to die. The main There are many taboos in the form of ethos, factors that cause the tree to die because the honey mores and Folkways among this community that hunters using nails on the Tualang tree to make helped shape the personality and social life. Taboos ladder (sigai) to draw honeycomb. Nails used on practiced by Jahai’s tribe also a taboo that has been tramp tree and branches will damage the tree inherited from ancestors. The taboos of Jahai's tribe because the nails will rust. When a wind blowing is customary that have been inherited from their strongly branches have spikes will fracture and ancestors such as: eventually, the tree will die. Every Tualang tree has a. At dusk, starting from 5 - 6pm, residents are only one Queen Bee for all nests. not allowed to leave the house. The ban is As for the Orang Asli they use ropes and intended to prevent interference of spirit. to make ladder (sigai). They can achieve a b. Pregnant women are not allowed to go to the honeycomb without damaging the trees. . bank of the river at dusk. This prohibition is Petai is only available during certain seasons. to prevent pregnant women disturbed spirits. Jahai tribe have method to know the petai is ripe or c. According trust Jahai’s tribe, while spirits not by seeing the stalk. A straight stalk meaning the causing various limb defects in the baby. petai is ripe. Now petai in the forest is extinct d. Pregnant women should not eat monkeys, slowly. For Jahai people, petaiforest is much better apes and pigs. They believe that eating meat than a banana.

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Rattan is one of the important material in the life of indigenous people. Aside from being a source of revenue it is also the raw material for weaving. Most manau rattan have high demand compared theanother rattan. manau rattan is a species of large diameter and very important as raw materials in the furniture industry. It is highly sought after by collector’s cane and does the price increase. Rattan manau can be identified by looking at the straight shape. If manau rattan is grown usually does not spread on the ground and bending and shiny. Rattan can cut if there are already 30 to 40 katam. Most types of animals hunted in the forest are deer, roe deer and badgers. Starting in January and February they cannot catch the animal because the animals are mating. Animals should only be hunted in July alone.

5 CONCLUSIONS

One of the challenges facing the Indigenous knowledge is how to maintain and transfer it to the future generations? How one learns is as important as what one learns. Young people of today do not have concrete possibilities to take part in all seasonal subsistence activities. Parts of the traditional knowledge have faded since it is no longer needed among the younger generation and even if a younger member of the society shows interest in maintaining the traditional knowledge they might still lack the necessary practical ingredient.

REFERENCES

Burn, R. B. 1995.Introduction to Research Methods.Melbourne : Longman Ritzer, George. 2012. TeoriSosiologi, Dari SosiologiKlasikSampaiPerkembanganTerakhir Postmodern. :PustakaPelajar Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli .2008. http://www.jheao.gov.my (15 July 2018). Merriem, S.B. 1998. Qualitative Research and Case Study Applications In Education. 2nd ed. San Francisco :Jasey – Bass. Yin, R.K. 1994.Case Study Research.Design and Methods. 2nd ed. Thousands QakCalif : Sage http://www.perakgis.my/jakoa/index.php/component/conte nt/category/11-suku-kaum-orang-asli Informer :Samat Bin Jeramun, Age: 34 years Date of interview:14 Mei 2016. TokBatin Kg. Semelor.

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